Ask a Shiter

[DodgeRover]

What model transits were they though? The old Di you could probably have got away with running on kerosene and not servicing after it's first service...The new ones you just have to be lucky or taking it into somebody in the know to keep on top for injectors failing, pistons holing, ECUs wanting patching etc, all on top of rampant rot!!!

[95 quid Peugeot]

I've a collection on sat morn. Should I win tonight's Dave Numbers roffle, how do I keep my tackle intact ?

[sierraman]

What model transits were they though? The old Di you could probably have got away with running on kerosene and not servicing after it's first service...The new ones you just have to be lucky or taking it into somebody in the know to keep on top for injectors failing, pistons holing, ECUs wanting patching etc, all on top of rampant rot!!!

I ran a 52 plate TDDI, a 04 plate TDCI and a 57 plate 2.4 TDCI. Went through plenty of clutches and DMFs though...

[Tetleysmooth]

I hope I'm not duplicating any posts here, but...

I bought this Saab 9-3 on Monday. The headlights are very badly oxidised, almost yellow in fact, so what's the best, and hopefully quickest way to get them back to much clearness?

[skattrd]

I hope I'm not duplicating any posts here, but...

I bought this Saab 9-3 on Monday. The headlights are very badly oxidised, almost yellow in fact, so what's the best, and hopefully quickest way to get them back to much clearness?

 

If you mean the plastic lenses, I've had success on other cars polishing them with autosol metal polish.

There are kits out there for restoring the lenses, I think DW tested one that worked well.

[Guest Hooli]

I hope I'm not duplicating any posts here, but...

I bought this Saab 9-3 on Monday. The headlights are very badly oxidised, almost yellow in fact, so what's the best, and hopefully quickest way to get them back to much clearness?

Reminds me. I need to do the same on my saab if my useless breakdown cunts ever let me get home.

[Talbot]

I bought this Saab 9-3 on Monday. The headlights are very badly oxidised, almost yellow in fact,

Are they polycarbonate lenses? I used 2000grit wet'n'dry aluminium oxide paper on the W210's headlamps, followed by some T-cut, and brought them back from "utterly fogged over" to "not bad at all" Certainly took them from MOT phail to MOT pass with a comment from the tester asking what I'd done to get them that good.

 

Took about an hour per headlamp though. Slow work.

[Tetleysmooth]

Thanks for the replies people.

Nothing doing today. Rain stopped play.

[Tetleysmooth]

Is there anyone on here who could do diagnostics on an 05 plate Saab 1.8t petrol, reasonably close to my location?

If there is, please pm me. Ta.

[SiC]

Thanks for the replies people.

Nothing doing today. Rain stopped play.

 

Automatic watering for wet+dry sandpaper.

 

Is there anyone on here who could do diagnostics on an 05 plate Saab 1.8t petrol, reasonably close to my location?

If there is, please pm me. Ta.

Where is your location? I have a Tech2 in Bristol. If no-where near, then sign up to UKSaabs as they have a database of people with Tech2s and where they are.

[SierraMikeHotel]

+1 for Uksaabs, I'm not very active on there but there is a wealth of knowledge (and the Tech2 database).

 

So, AdBlue. Had to put some in the Merc this week so I had a bit of a read on the internet to see what it is and what it does.

 

Really? Squirting tiny amounts of piss into the exhaust gets rid of nox? Sounds like total bollocks to me.

 

What's the forum consensus? Does it make a blind bit of difference or should it be filed alongside VW emissions testing?

[GrumpiusMaximus]

Not total bollocks.  As usual has an effect on performance, I believe.  The chemistry is pretty sound from my cursory understanding...

[SiC]

Adblue works absolutely fine and completely sound chemistry and physics. Busses and Lorries have been using it for years.

 

You just need it to keep peeing that fluid in. If it stops, the system can't clean the exhaust gases. Hence the type approval standards has pretty strict guidelines if you run out or the system fails. Basically several options manufacturers can do - usually they opt to give warning that its low, then when run out you have 50 miles to refill. If you don't, it won't allow a restart of the engine until you do (seriously).

[SierraMikeHotel]

Thank you both! It seemed unlikely but I'm happy to be wrong.

[kirton]

sorry, another electrical issue after having sorted the camper battery terminal.

 

Just replaced the starter on my e28 - fun as you can't see the bolts and only the 17mm spanner in the tool kit fits, you are stuck if you haven't got it.  Why did Bosch design a starter casing that you can't get standard tools on the bolts.  Even the tool kit spanner gives you 1/32 of a turn, and bastard tight bolts that you can't swing a hammer to give impact,  - both eventually cracked off with a real bang.  Even the local BMW specialist said the job was a bastard so feel reasonably chuffed I got it done (blood, seat and bad language involved)

 

Ebay (***t) listed starter for 3.5litre models and sends me one labelled as 318i, can't see it dealing with an engine twice the size.

 

So spent half the price of a brand new starter with the local Bosch agents for a rebuild;  (Electro Diesel in Exeter - recommend) 

 

problem?  old solenoid had two terminals - heavy duty M8 with two wires attached and single wire spade;  replacement has M8 and two two spades. So it's just connect as before using either spade terminal?  I hope so as I don't want the car to have the oppportunty to deal out some more bloody wounds

[jcr]

Adblue works absolutely fine and completely sound chemistry and physics. Busses and Lorries have been using it for years.

 

You just need it to keep peeing that fluid in. If it stops, the system can't clean the exhaust gases. Hence the type approval standards has pretty strict guidelines if you run out or the system fails. Basically several options manufacturers can do - usually they opt to give warning that its low, then when run out you have 50 miles to refill. If you don't, it won't allow a restart of the engine until you do (seriously).

DAF actually now offers an in-cab catheter directly into the exhaust....

[twosmoke300]

Now your just taking the piss

[666jjp]

02 vectra advice please, the engine warning light has come on. I appreciate it could probably a multitude of sins but are there any 

regular probs with these. it is a 1.8 petrol engine.

is it worth investing in a reader or better taking it to a garage?

[sierraman]

Stick a reader in, then tell us what it says. Could be anything.

[666jjp]

would this be suitable?

 

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/ELM327-OBD2-Fault-Codes-Reader-Diagnostic-Scanner-Tool-Ford-Focus-Vauxhall-Corsa/401337858159?hash=item5d7199b86f:g:D5IAAOSwZR9ajWQO

[sierraman]

Unless it’s something a bit more in depth I’d just borrow/buy a cheap reader. What you’ve got there would be handy if you’ve got a spare laptop. I say spare cause a lot of this software is riddled with viruses. A cheap reader should be easy less than a tenner.

[aerodynamically_challenged]

I was servicing the brakes on my Volvo today and I noticed that the brake pistons had two parts, a cup shape part like a normal piston and a smaller cylindrical part that is loose in the middle, anyone know why this would be? also do many other cars have this? my best guess is that it's something to do with reducing vibrations or maybe some sort of anti-seize mechanism.

[twosmoke300]

1.8 petrol vectra ? I’d be checking the breather pipes into the throttle body . The small one goes into a tiny hole and blocks up easily

[castros_bro]

Someone I know* who in unemployed is planning to go on a 1000+ mile (1600+km) one way trip to the Iberian Peninsular for some random reason and has purchased a suitable vehicle   got some cheap wheels from a beige webshite.

 

The cheapest ferry over to France is a "day return trip" but obviously the return part would not be used.

 

Has anyone tried this and is there any fall out like getting a "fine" on a credit card for not obeying the Ferry rules? 

[DodgeRover]

No you just have to pay again to come back

[DSdriver]

Should this be rescued?

Renault 19 by Jean-Pierre Declemy, on Flickr

 

This is in a yard near where I am staying. The owner has died. That is all I know at the moment but could find out more if anyone is interested in it.

[pilninggas]

Someone I know* who in unemployed is planning to go on a 1000+ mile (1600+km) one way trip to the Iberian Peninsular for some random reason and has purchased a suitable vehicle   got some cheap wheels from a beige webshite.

 

The cheapest ferry over to France is a "day return trip" but obviously the return part would not be used.

 

Has anyone tried this and is there any fall out like getting a "fine" on a credit card for not obeying the Ferry rules? 

the T+Cs usually state you will get charged the full, worst case whack if you dont use the return crossing to make the offer valid.

 

get it read fully or your card will be charged.

[doug]

Should this be rescued?

Renault 19 by Jean-Pierre Declemy, on Flickr

 

This is in a yard near where I am staying. The owner has died. That is all I know at the moment but could find out more if anyone is interested in it.

The truck? 

[SierraMikeHotel]

There's an Autoshite member who has written a couple of books - one about driving rental cars in a silly manner and the other about quality control in car factories - what's his username?  Or if you see this can you PM me please?

 

Ta muchly!

[DSdriver]

The truck? 

Erm... I suppose if you could get the truck started you could put the car in the van and the van on the back of the truck.